CHARLES James Fox was a representative of the middle class in the
House of Commons in England. He was a great orator. He had made it a
point to pay his creditors as soon as he received his salary on the
first of every month. Once a tradesman asked him for payment against
a promissory note on the first of the month, as he had to deposit
the money in the bank. Fox replied, “I am sorry I can’t pay you this
month as I have to repay a loan to Sheridan. He has loaned me money
without taking a promissory note from me, because he trusts me
implicitly. Supposing I die suddenly, the poor man would get
nothing.”]

The tradesman was highly impressed by Fax’s high sense of integrity.
Tearing the promissory note in bits he said, “I don’t need this
either; you may return the loan at your convenience.”

Fox was deeply moved. Holding out the money he said to his creditor,
“In that case I must pay you before I pay to Sheridan. In the first
place your loan is older: secondly, you need to put it in the bank
urgently; thirdly, You’ve torn up the promissory note, trusting me.
I’ll pay Sheridan next month; he’ll understand.”